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Kennetts Jewellers is a fourth generation family retail business. The company has supplied quality engagement and weddings rings along with watches and clocks throughout Christchurch and Canterbury for over 125 years. Trading originally under the name of R. Kennett & Co. Ltd. the retail jewellery shop was opened by Robert Kennett, in 1880, a watchmaker and optician. This dual role for the business continued with Robert’s son, Ronald, from the 1920’s through to the mid 1940's. Ronald was forced to diversify the business during WWII as imported goods were scarce and became a launch and yacht broker as well as a car dealer. During this time the trading name was changed to R. L. Kennett & Co.Ltd, the name it trades under today.
The business no longer provided optical services after the death of Ronald in 1945 his son Anthony (Tony) was forced to abandon his plans to become an optician and trained solely as a watchmaker. Tony took over the helm in 1954 with Neroli, Tony’s wife, become a full partner in the business in 1970.
Tony and Neroli’s daughter Anne joined the business in 1997 and has been responsible for establishing and developing the company’s jewellery design business under the kennett creative design brand.
Anne is also a qualified gemmologist (F.G.A.A) and registered jewellery valuer. The company is a member of the Jewellery and Watchmakers of New Zealand (JWNZ) with Anne currently the Canterbury/Westland branch chairperson for the JWNZ.
Helen Ah Kuoi joined also in 2007 having worked in jewellery for 4 years already, with the two newest additions Susie Hussey and Vanessa Prentice.
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